How to hire seasonal employees

Picture a retail store during Christmas time. And now a ski resort in the middle of the winter. For some industries, hiring needs fluctuate from season to season. That’s why seasonal employees are a key investment for companies that want to be productive during peak demand.

Here’s a guide on how to hire seasonal employees:

Before hiring seasonal employees

Make sure you need to hire temporary staff and not permanent employees. Ask yourself:

Do we have peak periods during the same time every year? (e.g. holidays and tax time)

Do we need more employees because of an increase in business (e.g. opening a new store) or because of a temporary staff shortage? (e.g. due to maternity leave)

How to attract seasonal employees

Start your hiring process well before you reach your peak season. For example, summer resorts could begin their recruiting efforts in February or March and aim to close all hires by May.

Here’s how to start:

1. Write targeted job descriptions

Your job ad should clearly state that you’re hiring seasonal employees. It’s best to mention that in the job title. Here’s an example:

Screenshot via Indeed

In your job description:

Be clear about requirements. Most positions don’t require relevant work experience. But, make sure to highlight necessary certifications (e.g. for a lifeguard.) Also, describe physical requirements (e.g. if employees need to stand for long hours or carry heavy items) so that qualified candidates apply.

Note how specific Guest Services is when listing physical requirements for the job:

Mention work schedule. Candidates want to know how many days and hours they’ll be working and whether there’s any flexibility around work schedules. By being clear about working hours, you avoid dealbreakers and scheduling conflicts.

This is especially important for retail seasonal employment. Macy’s describes its available shifts for Seasonal Customer Service Associates in this job ad:

Explain your compensation structure. Being vague about whether you’re hiring hourly or salaried employees will turn applicants off. Clarify how (and how much) you’ll pay your employees and mention if the position is commission-based.

You can also post your job ads to websites dedicated to seasonal employment:

CoolWorks: Seasonal jobs in the U.S., mainly in resorts and national parks, categorized by state and field (e.g. food & beverage, transportation and retail.) Listings include jobs for teens, interns and retirees.

How to evaluate and recruit seasonal employees

One of the biggest challenges with seasonal hiring is the tight timeframe: you need to hire staff before busy season begins. Optimize your recruiting in a way that reduces time to hire, without losing quality of hire. Here’s how:

Organize recruitment events

Events will help you meet potential candidates en masse. You can host events in various locations to reach local candidates. Advertise your event and remind interested candidates to bring their resumes or completed application forms beforehand.

Make sure to schedule and host your recruitment event in advance so that you have enough time to screen candidates.

Interview candidates in groups

Group interviews can speed up the hiring process, especially if you’re recruiting more than one employee for the same position (e.g. salespeople for your stores.) This will also be helpful if the role involves communication, presentation and collaboration, as you’ll have the chance to see how candidates interact in group settings.

How to retain seasonal employees

The way you treat seasonal staff can make or break your employer brand. Here’s how to retain seasonal employees and increase the chances of them returning next season or recommending your company to others as a potential place to work:

Offer end-of-season bonuses

Employees who quit during peak season create gaps in your workforce when you want to be as productive as possible. To avoid recruiting from scratch, consider offering an end-of-season bonus. This will motivate employees to stay with your company through the entire season.

Lagoon, a summer fun park in Utah, lists an end-of-season bonus in its job descriptions to attract seasonal employees:

Offer loyalty bonuses to returning staff

Former employees who are already familiar with the job and will require less training for the next peak season. When you begin hiring seasonal workers, attract former staff by offering them an extra bonus. Or, proactively reach out to them to learn if they’re available.

Also, when suitable, promote past employees to senior positions. Or, offer permanent jobs to high-performing employees, if that makes sense for your business. Advertise these tactics to motivate applicants who are not only looking for a temp position, but wish to develop their careers.

Create realistic expectations for candidates

While you want to entice potential hires with an engaging job ad, don’t sugarcoat responsibilities. Otherwise, you risk attracting non-qualified candidates. For example, work at a retail store during holidays can be chaotic, so it’s best to hire candidates who fully understand those job conditions.

Here’s how Macy’s describe the role of a Seasonal Jewelry Sales associate:

Offer creative benefits or perks

Be honest about what the role entails, offer benefits that will make up for long working hours and deliver on what you promised.

Above & Beyond Alaska, a company that organizes trips in the wilderness, describes the employee experience and explains how they try to balance work and life for their seasonal employees: